Figure Bears to come home 4-4

Eagles will take advantage of weaknesses on offensive and defensive lines

November 04, 2011|Dan McNeil

I have been amused by the optimism I've read and heard about the Bears lately. As we inch closer to the Bears' next "biggest game of the year"

Monday night in Philadelphia, there are many glasses half-full out there.

Wide receiver Earl Bennett is going to return from a chest injury.

Rookie tackle Gabe Carimi might be back from a knee injury.

Bearsss.

The Bears historically have fared well against Eagles' quarterback Michael Vick.

Lovie Smith is 6-2 on "Monday Night Football."

Matt Forte has arrived and now stakes a legitimate claim as an elite NFL running back.

Bearsss.

I won't attempt to disprove those assertions. However, I submit victories over a dispirited Vikings' team in Week 6 and an injury-decimated Bucs' squad in London two weeks ago have clouded judgment on these Bears.

Here comes the glass-half-empty guy.

The Bears remain a team with a bad offensive line. Especially on the road.

When last challenged in a hostile environment Oct. 10 at Ford Field, the Bears' big fellas were a big joke. On both sides of the ball. Clete Blakeman's crew whistled the Bears for nine false starts and it's remarkable the Lions only sacked Jay Cutler three times.

More of that is coming when Jason Babin (third in the NFL with nine sacks), Cullen Jenkins and Trent Cole dig in with the lunatic Philly fans screaming for blood.

And the time that has elapsed since that bad loss to Detroit in Week 5 has distorted perceptions of the Bears' big uglies on the other side of the ball. Since Jahvid Best authored his career-best 163 yards rushing performance, the Bears haven't been asked to stop the run much.

The Vikings forgot about Adrian Peterson after falling behind early and the Bucs, who were without LeGarrette Blount and Earnest Graham, attempted only 11 rushes.

That's not how you beat the Bears. You run at them. Those who have tried have prospered.

The Eagles (3-4) have gotten healthy by running the ball. They're doing it better than any team in the league, averaging 179.9 yards per game. LeSean McCoy, now in his third year, has been explosive and averages 5.6 yard per carry.

Moreover, Andy Reid seems to value the ground attack more now than at any point in his 13 seasons as Eagles coach.

The Eagles also have playmakers in wide receivers Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson and tight end Brent Celek. The Bears have given up big plays consistently this season, as evidenced by the Lions needing only roughly 20 minutes of possession time en route to 24 points a month ago.

Glad all have enjoyed the absence of teeth gnashing for a few weeks, but reality is right around the corner. The Bears will be coming home 4-4.

Special contributor Dan McNeil co-hosts "The McNeil and Spiegel Show" weekdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on WSCR-AM 670.